Electric synchronizing attachment for clocks



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. F. BARD.

ELECTRIC SYNGHRONIZING ATTACHMENT .FOR CLOCKS. No. 369,386. LC Patented Sept. 6, 1887.

71 14/1 II'TORJVE YS (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

E. F. BARD.

ELECTRIC SYNGHRONIZING ATTACHMENT FOR CLOCKS.

No. 369,386. Patented Sept. 6, 1887.

WITNESSES: IW'VENTOR Emma 13mi- B y' 7 K/flznY/l M/ ATTORNEYS N. PETERS. Fhclo-lillmgnplmr. Ia/inhiuglmv D. C,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDMUND F. BARD, OF NEWV YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRIC SYNCHRONIZlNG ATTACHMENT F OR CLOCKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 369,386, dated September 6, 1887.

Application filed September 9, 1886. Serial No. 213,132.

To ctZ6 whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDMUND F. BARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Synchronizing Apparatus for Time-Pieces, of which the following is. a specification.

This invention relates to a class of apparatus employed for synchronizing time-pieces at determinate intervals and it consists, essentially, in the combination, with a synchronizing device, such as a pair of arms or levers that are actuated to adjust the hands at determinate intervals 'by a cam or other means, of a motor which is constructed to adjust the hands through the intermediate mechanism, and a device for controlling the motor, such device being constructed to set the motor in action, to arrest its motion, and to retain the motor out of action. This motor can be one of the well-known class of spring-motors, and its controlling device is actuated by a current of electricity. The time-piece is alsoprovided with a circuit-closer,which, through suitable electric connections, controls the current to the motorcontrolling devices of similar time-pieces, so that all of a series of clocks are synchronized at one and the same time. Asecondary dial and an index hand (or hands) on each time-piece indicates the exact time at which the same was last regulated, and such index-hand can be actuated to move either by the motor or independently of the same, all of which is more fully pointed out in the following specification and claims, and illustrated in g the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a sectional front elevation of a clock provided with the improved synchronizing apparatus. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same in the plane w m, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is asimilar section thereof, showing the operating parts in a different position. Fig. 4. is a front elevation, with part broken away, of a clock provided with a modified form of mechanism for actuating the index-hands.

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section in the (No model.)

through a slot, a, formed in the clock-dial, and Y are adapted individually to engage with the minute-hand H of the clock at stated intervals, provided the same is within their arc of vibration, and to bring it to a zero-point. WVhen the levers D D are in their normal or open position, as shown byfull lines in Fig. 1, the minute-hand H of the clock can freely pass by the pins on the said levers, as the same now lie out of the arc of rotation ofsaid hand.

The upper ends of the levers D D carry pins d d which project inwardly to be individually engaged by two series of cams, E E, that are mounted upon a spindle, E, and rotate with the same, the said cams in their rotary motion causing the levers to close upon the minutehand. The levers are reopened or spread apart by the action of springs F F, attached thereto.

The cam-bearing spindle E is rotated at the proper intervals by its connection with a motor of any suitable constrnctionsuch as a spring or weight motor. In the example shown in the drawings a spring-motor is employed, S being its spring, and S its center wheel, which latter is mounted upon an arbor, 8, provided with a post for winding the spring, all being of the usual construction. The center wheel, S, is connected by pinions s and s with a pinion, c, on the spindle E, so that when the motor is in action the cams EE are rotated by said motor.

The mechanism for arresting the motion of the motor, for holding themotor out of action, and for allowing it to resume its action at the proper intervals is as follows: Upon the spindle E is mounted an escapement-wheel, G, that is provided with two or more teeth, 1, 2, 3, and 4, Figs. 2 and 8, and such teeth are adapted to be engaged by the arms 6 z" of a detent-lever, I, that is fulcrumed at i to a bracket or to the frame, and is subjected to the action of a spring, One end of said lever I carries an armature, 1, Figs. 2 and 3, which is in position to be attracted by electro-magnets J, so that when the armature is attracted the escapement wheel is released and the spring-motor is free to operate. An electric current may be passed through the bobbins to vitalize the cores through wires 10 and 11, from any suitable station or from a primary clock, at the propel-intervals and in the usual manner.

To utilize the power of the spring S of the motor as completely as possible, and to insure perfect accuracy and a reliability in synchronizing, each series of cams contains four cams, E, and the escapement-wh eel G and its detentlever are peculiarly constructed. In the operation of the cams E, when the armature I is in its normal position, Fig. 2, the arm i of the detent-lever I engages the face of, say, tooth 10f the escapement-wheel, and the levers D D are open, the pins d d then resting at the outer edges of one of their respective cams E. hen the armature is attracted by the magnets, Fig. 3, the escapement-whcel is released and the spring S rotates the cam-bearing shaft E through one-eighth of a revolution, at which point the tooth 3 of the escapement-wheel comes into engagement with the arm 2" of the detent'lever 1, whereby the action of the motor is arrested. The cams E are so arranged in relation to the pins on the levers D D that in the said one-eighth of a revolution they advance so as to bring the said pins quite to their inner ends, thereby closing the said 1evers to adjust the hand. XVhen the circuit is broken and the armature is released, the dctent-lever falls and tooth Sof the escapementwheel is released. The motor again sets in action and continues until tooth 4: of the escapement-whcel is engaged by the arm 6 of the detent-lever, when the motion of the motor is again arrested. During this period the cams are again moved one-eighth of a revolution to complete the quadrant, the pins on the levers 1) 1) go out of engagement with the cams, and said levers fly apart, Fi 1.

If the minute-hand has not deviated from the correct time to too great an extent in the course of its last revolution, one of the pins d (7., according as the position of the hand is fast or slow, will move the same to the zeropoint, which is shown to be at twelve oclock.

The synchronizing mechanism of each signal or primary clock is so constructed that the instant it is set in motion it automatically opens and closes an independent electric circuit, by means of which any number of clocks in the said circuit are synchronized at the same instant as the primary clock. In this way the several clocks located in stores or residences in towns or cities can be regulated at one and the same instant. The synchronizing principle in each of these clocks is precisely similar to that heretofore described.

To close and break the circuit by the action of the motor, a pinion, an, is mounted on the cam-bearing spindle E, which engages with a pinion, m, Figs. :2 and 3, upon a spindle, in, having bearings in the frame B. On this .spindle is mounted an eccentric, M, the rod m of which carries a contact, a, that is adapted to enter between two Spring-platcs,n n,which are separated from each other by vulcanized fiber or other insulating material. The end of the eccentric-rod m is composed of a noncondueting material and a strip of metal which overlies this material, so that when this contact a is thrust between the spring-plates the circuit through a relay-battery, 13*, Fig. 2, is closed through wires 12 and l3,which are connected with the spiingplatcs. The shaft m is so geared to the spindle E that the eccentric makes four revolutions to one of the said spindlet-hat is, one revolution for each of the cams Eand consequently the circuit from battery 8* is closed and broken every time the clock is synchronized. Each clock can be provided with this transmitting mechanism and a relay-battery, each and every clock then operating to close the circuit through the electro-magnets of the next following clock.

In order to facilitate the inspection of these clocks, each clock has a secondary dial on its face,which are actuated either from the motor, as in Figs. 1 and 2, or by the works of the clock, as in Figs. 4- and 5, to indicate the exact time at which the clock was last synchronized.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the secondary dial A is located on the dial of the clock in a position where it can be easily inspected, and the hand It is actuated by a gear-connection with the cam-bearing shaft E, the gear-wheels being so proportioned that with each revolution of the shaft E through one quadrant the hand it is moved one-twelfth of a revolution or through a space corresponding to one hour of time-that is to say, every time the levers D I) close upon the hand If to synchronize the clock, the hand it of the secondary dial is moved to indicate the hour at which this synchronizing took place, and remains in its latter position until the expiration of another hour, when it is again moved. The connection of the hand it with the motor may be varied as desired; and in the example I have shown a gear and shaft connection consisting of a bevel-gear on the cam-bearing shaft E, abevel-gear on each end of a vertical spindle, 0, bevel-gears on the extremities of ahorizontal spindle, 0, and bevel-gears on the arbor 0 of the hand h, which arbor is situated at right angles to the shaft 0, all said gears properly engaging with their respective drivers.

By comparing the time indicated by the hands of the clock with that of the hand of the synchronizing attachmentit can be readily perceived whether the synchronizing mechanism is in proper working order. The hand h of the secondary dial being actuated directly by the synchronizing apparatus, any failure of the latter to discharge its function is indicated by this hand it, which in such a case remains in a position indicating the hour at which the clock was last synchronized, and therefore any existing difference in regard to the hours indicated. by the respective hands will at once suggest to the observer that the synchronizing apparatus is faulty.

As shown in Figs. 4c and 5, the index-hands h if are set in motion directly from the hour and minute pinions of the clock, the mechanism being such that the hands are only moved at the time of synchronizing, and are then moved through a space corresponding to the interval elapsing between the successive times of regulating.

The mechanism just referred to, which is fully described in principle in Letters Patent No. 300,833, dated June 24, 1884, is as follows, (see especially Fig. 5:) 1? is the arbor of the minute-hand, and P that ofthe hour-hand, and p 1; p are the respective pinions for obtaining the proper relative speeds of the hands, all as usual. B is a spindle located below the minutearbor P, on which are loosely mounted the an bors r and r of the minute and hour hands, respectively; and on each of said arbors is a pinion, RR Mounted on a stud, T, projecting from the frame is a pinion, t, and a second pinion, 15, the two being secured to each other and so arranged that the pinion t meshes with the pinion R and the pinion t with pinion It, the diameter of the pinions being such that the hour-hand h and minute-hand if receive their proper relative speeds. Project ing from the rear of the pinion R are pins t, the free ends of which ride in slots formed in a disk, U. The hub of this disk is threaded to engage with a screw-thread formed on the spindle R. Aeireumferential ring, a, in which there is anotch, a, is formed on the inner face of the disk U, the depth of this notch being a little less than the pitch of the thread on the spindle Rthat is to say, one complete turn of the spindle would advance the disk a distance slightly greater than the depth of the notch. The periphery is covered with small notches, which are engaged by a knife-edge, at, Fig. at, carried by an upright armature-lever, U, which is pivoted at a in front of an electro-magnet, U". A spring, (1, is arranged so as to hold the knife-edge a normally against the periphery of the notched disk, so that as the spindle R is rotated by a gear-wheel, R, thereon, which engages the pinion p of the clock-movement, the disk U is prevented from rotating, but is advanced toward the clock dial by the action of the screw-thread on said spindle. The rotation of the spindle winds up the spiral Lspring V, one end of which is secured in the hub of the disk U and the other end is fixed to the spindle R. A stop, 1), arranged to engage with the notch 10, projects from an arm, V, which is secured to the shaft It, and this shaft is so timed that when the notch a is in engagement with it the hands h It will point to the correct time. If at each successive hour the knife is withdrawn from the periphery of the disk U, as when the armature-lever is attracted, the spiral spring causes the disk to revolve, and the screw-thread on the shaft brings the disk toward the stop 12, so that after making one revolution the notch a is brought into engagement with the stop 1), and as, in revolving, the disk carries with it the arbor r and the pinion It, the minutehand is advanced onehour, and the hourhand, through its gear-connection therewith, is correspondingly advanced. The wires 14 and 15 of the electro-magnet are in one and the same circuit with the synchronizing attachment, and the disk U is released at the time of synchronizing, and the hands therefore indicate the exact hour and minute at which the clock was last synchronized.

WVhen a series of clocks'are synchronized from a primary clock, the hands of the latter for indicating the time of synchronizing are in one and the same circuit with the synchronizing mechanism of all the clocks, so that asimple inspection of the hands of the primary clock will show if the synchronizing mechanisms of all the clocks are in perfect working order, and the inspection of each and every clock is not necessary.

XVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A synchronizing apparatus for timepieces, consisting of levers D D, engaging the minute-hand of the time-piece, a motor having a rotary spindle, E, the cams E on said spindle engaging the levers, the escapementwheel G, the spring-pressed detent-lever engaging the said wheel, an electro-magnet, and electrical connections for the same, substantially as described.

2. A synchronizing apparatus for timepieces, consisting of a mechanism engaging a hand of the time-piece, a motor for actuating this mechanism and containing a toothed wheel ,G, and the oscillating detent-lever I, having two arms, t t, engaging alternately with the teeth of the said wheel, the wheel rotating through the space between two consecutive teeth for each complete oscillation of the lever, but having an intermittent mot-ion, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination of the levers D D, a motor, the spindle E thereof, and the cams E, engaging the said levers, the escapementwheels on spindle E, provided with teeth corresponding in number to the cams, a detentlever having two arms engaging alternately with the teeth of the escapementwheel, and means, substantially as described, for actuating the detent-lever, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a synchronizing apparatus for timepieces, the combination, with a mechanism for engaging and adjusting the hand at determinated intervals, of an index-hand for indicating the time of such adjustment, substantially as shown and described.

5. A synchronizing apparatus for time pieces, consisting of a mechanism engaging the hand of the timepiece, a motor for actuating this mechanism, a stop for the motor, means, substantially as described, for actuating the said stop at determinated intervals, and an index-hand actuated by the motor to IIO tor, means foractuating-this stop, an eccentric actuated by the motor, a circuit closer, a, caused to reciprocate by the eccentric, contacts n 'n for the circuitrcloser, and electrical connection of the contacts with abattery, sub stantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDMUND F. BARD.

\Vitnesses:

A. FABER DU FAUR, E. F. Kiis'rnmrnnnn. 

